Premier League side Everton have made contact with former Manchester City captain Kyle Walker, as per Fabrizio Romano.
Everton ‘Make Contact’ With Kyle Walker Over Potential Transfer
Where Did It Go Wrong For Walker at City?
Just five months ago, Walker was the captain of, and a key player in, one of the most successful sides in English football history, yet he now finds himself completely out of Pep Guardiola’s plans. How has one of the best right-backs in Premier League history seen such a rapid demise?
Read More: Manchester City Confirm The Arrival Of ‘Maverick’ Talent
Walker is a player who has always majorly relied on his physical attributes, mainly his pace, to make up for his lack of defensive intelligence. The last 12 months have seen a notable decline in his physical ability and, despite being older and more experienced, his footballing brain has not matured at a quick enough rate, meaning he was consistently exposed down City’s right-hand side in the first half of the season.
This could be seen as he was dribbled past a staggering 1.12 times per 90 in his 15 Premier League games this year, the best part of twice as much as the 0.65 times per 90 that he got dribbled past in the 2023/24 season.
Additionally, the 35-year-old won just 58.8% of his tackles, 54% of his duels and 56.3% of his aerial duels in the first part of the Premier League season. This represents a marked downturn compared to the 23/24 campaign, where he won 63.2% of tackles, 55.7% of his duels and 63.4% of his aerial duels.
Guardiola shifted away from the Englishman, instead preferring to deploy Matheus Nunes or Manuel Akanji on the right of defence. Even a loan move to AC Milan, which potentially could have refreshed Walker, was very uninspiring, and it meant that he was left out of City’s squad for the Club World Cup and told to move on entirely.
Why Are Everton Interested?
The Merseyside giants saw a notable upturn in form after the appointment of David Moyes in January, but the Toffees will see a raft of players officially leave the club on July 1. Amongst them are Ashley Young, an experienced full-back who started 19 games for Everton this season, a fair number of which were at right-back, and Mason Holgate and Michael Keane, two right-footed defenders who have had limited minutes in recent years but provided useful cover in defence at times.
Read More:Manchester City Beat Premier League Rivals in Race to Secure Versatile ‘Wonderkid’
This already leaves them short of options on the right-hand side of defence, but it is without taking into account the injury problems that club legend Seamus Coleman has been suffering over the past two seasons. The Irishman has played less than 900 minutes over the last two campaigns and entered the pitch just five times in the league this season. It meant that Jake O’Brien, who is largely a centre-back, had to play a few games as a makeshift right-back this season, something which Moyes will not want to do often.
This leaves the Toffees with just six senior defenders under contract going into next season: Coleman, O’Brien, Vitaily Mykolenko, James Tarkowski, Nathan Patterson, who started just three times last season as Moyes seemingly does not trust him, and Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been the subject of interest in previous summer’s.
Read More:Top 10 Most Expensive Chelsea Goalkeepers of All Time
Walker could add some much-needed depth to the Everton backline and, given his age, he could be employed in the centre of defence more than ever before. However, Romano reports that Moyes’ side will face stiff competition from Fenerbahçe, who can offer Walker European football next season, if they want to secure the services of the England international.
Where Did It Go Wrong For Walker at City?
Just five months ago, Walker was the captain of, and a key player in, one of the most successful sides in English football history, yet he now finds himself completely out of Pep Guardiola’s plans. How has one of the best right-backs in Premier League history seen such a rapid demise?
Read More: Manchester City Confirm The Arrival Of ‘Maverick’ Talent
Walker is a player who has always majorly relied on his physical attributes, mainly his pace, to make up for his lack of defensive intelligence. The last 12 months have seen a notable decline in his physical ability and, despite being older and more experienced, his footballing brain has not matured at a quick enough rate, meaning he was consistently exposed down City’s right-hand side in the first half of the season.
This could be seen as he was dribbled past a staggering 1.12 times per 90 in his 15 Premier League games this year, the best part of twice as much as the 0.65 times per 90 that he got dribbled past in the 2023/24 season.
Additionally, the 35-year-old won just 58.8% of his tackles, 54% of his duels and 56.3% of his aerial duels in the first part of the Premier League season. This represents a marked downturn compared to the 23/24 campaign, where he won 63.2% of tackles, 55.7% of his duels and 63.4% of his aerial duels.
Guardiola shifted away from the Englishman, instead preferring to deploy Matheus Nunes or Manuel Akanji on the right of defence. Even a loan move to AC Milan, which potentially could have refreshed Walker, was very uninspiring, and it meant that he was left out of City’s squad for the Club World Cup and told to move on entirely.
Why Are Everton Interested?
The Merseyside giants saw a notable upturn in form after the appointment of David Moyes in January, but the Toffees will see a raft of players officially leave the club on July 1. Amongst them are Ashley Young, an experienced full-back who started 19 games for Everton this season, a fair number of which were at right-back, and Mason Holgate and Michael Keane, two right-footed defenders who have had limited minutes in recent years but provided useful cover in defence at times.
Read More:Manchester City Beat Premier League Rivals in Race to Secure Versatile ‘Wonderkid’
This already leaves them short of options on the right-hand side of defence, but it is without taking into account the injury problems that club legend Seamus Coleman has been suffering over the past two seasons. The Irishman has played less than 900 minutes over the last two campaigns and entered the pitch just five times in the league this season. It meant that Jake O’Brien, who is largely a centre-back, had to play a few games as a makeshift right-back this season, something which Moyes will not want to do often.
This leaves the Toffees with just six senior defenders under contract going into next season: Coleman, O’Brien, Vitaily Mykolenko, James Tarkowski, Nathan Patterson, who started just three times last season as Moyes seemingly does not trust him, and Jarrad Branthwaite, who has been the subject of interest in previous summer’s.
Read More:Top 10 Most Expensive Chelsea Goalkeepers of All Time
Walker could add some much-needed depth to the Everton backline and, given his age, he could be employed in the centre of defence more than ever before. However, Romano reports that Moyes’ side will face stiff competition from Fenerbahçe, who can offer Walker European football next season, if they want to secure the services of the England international.